Netflix has been a huge hit over the past few years, offering a wide range of movies and TV shows. In this blog post, we’ll present you with some Greek mythology and Greek culture-related movies and TV series, which you can watch on Netflix.
Watching Greek-related movies and TV series can enhance your knowledge of Greek culture, which is really important when seeking to master the language. Getting in touch with the ancient Greek religion and the modern culture will definitely help you digest the Greek language more easily.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many of them available on Netflix, but with its rapid expansion, new content is added all the time.
So, let’s have a look at the Greek-related movies and TV series that are available on Netflix! Consider this our Greek Netflix guide!
Table of Contents
- Troy (2004)
- Troy: Fall of a City ( TV series 2018 )
- Clash of the Titans (2010)
- Spartacus (2010-2013)
- Hercules (1997)
- Πρόμαχος (Prómahos) (2014)
- Greek Mythology Facts
- Conclusion
1. Troy (2004)
Troy is a famous 2004 movie, which can also be found on Netflix under its Greek name Τροία (Tría).
This is an epic period film based on Homer’s masterpiece, Iliad, and is one of the most popular Greek Netflix movies. Its cast is superb, with Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, and Orlando Bloom starring in this adventure.
The film focuses on the invasion of the Greek United Forces in the city of Troy, due to the taking of Helen, who was the wife of Menelaos—the king of Mycenaean Sparta.
One of the characteristic quotes from this movie is presented below.
Hector: “All my life I’ve lived by a code and the code is simple: honor the gods, love your woman, and defend your country. Troy is mother to us all. Fight for her!”
2. Troy: Fall of a City ( TV series, 2018 )
If you feel like digging into the story of the mythical Trojan War a little bit more, this series might be exactly what you’re looking for.
You can also find it under its Greek name: Τροία: Η πτώση μιας πόλης (Tría: I ptósi mias pólis).
This TV series is based on the same story as the movie Troy (2004), but is far more detailed. When it comes to Greek history, Netflix shows like this one are great material.
3. Clash of the Titans (2010)
Want to learn about Greek mythology on Netflix? This movie is all about Greek mythology, as Titans were worshipped as part of the ancient Greek religion.
The plot wraps around Perseus, a demigod who is a son of Zeus, and his battle against the minions of the underworld. He aims to stop them from conquering the Heaven and Earth.
The casting of this Greek mythology Netflix film is highly respectable as it consists of Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, and Ralph Fiennes.
One of the most iconic quotes of this movie is the moment when Zeus screams: “Release the Kraken!”
4. Spartacus (2010-2013)
Spartacus, or Σπάρτακος (Spártakos) in Greek, is one of the most popular TV series of its genre. However, it’s not genuinely Greek, as it takes place in the ancient Roman Empire.
You’re probably wondering what its connection is with Greek culture. First and foremost, Greece at some point became part of the Roman Empire and the Romans left a significant impact on ancient Greek culture. Secondly, this is the story of a Greek gladiator from the Thrace region, who lead a rebellion against the Romans.
One of the most characteristic dialogue lines of the series is presented below:
Spartacus: “Is this my destiny? Blood and death?”
Sura: “You have always been destined for unfortunate things.”
5. Hercules (1997)
Who hasn’t watched the all-time classic Hercules?
This is one of the most popular Disney animation movies of the 90s, and it focuses on the ancient Greek myth of Hercules.
According to the myth, Hercules was a demigod, a son of Zeus. This joyful animated movie wraps around Hercules’ adventures and his constant battle against Hades, who wants to destroy Hercules and all the Olympian Gods.
The main story of this movie is represented by this quote:
Zeus: “For a true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart.”
6. Πρόμαχος (Prómahos) (2014)
This Greek drama Netflix movie focuses on the struggle of two Greek attorneys, who pursue the return of the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, from England.
Interestingly, the name of the movie Πρόμαχος (Prómahos), refers to a bronze statue of Athena Promachos, which used to guard the entrance of Parthenon. This is presented as an allegory for the persistence of the two attorneys, who try to guard the Greek culture by returning the Marbles to their home.
7. Greek Mythology Facts
Most of the Netflix Greek mythology movies include the main Greek mythological characters, widely known as the Twelve Olympian Gods. In order to understand these movies even better, let’s take a look at a short presentation of each Greek mythology god, below.
- Δίας (Días) — Zeus
Zeus is the king of the gods, husband and brother to Hera, and famous for his love affairs. He’s the child of the titans Cronus and Rhea. His symbol is the thunderbolt, and he’s considered to be the most powerful god amongst the Olympians. - Ήρα (Íra) — Hera
Hera is the wife of Zeus and therefore the queen of the Olympian Gods. She’s the goddess of marriage and protector of the family. As mentioned above, she is not only the wife of Zeus, but also his sister. Due to the erratic love life of Zeus, Hera is often presented as jealous and vengeful. - Ποσειδώνας (Posidónas) — Poseidon
Poseidon is the brother of Zeus and Hera and protector of the seas. His symbol is often the trident, whereas he is often also considered responsible for any natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods. - Δήμητρα (Dímitra) — Demeter
Demeter is the goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility. She is a sister and a lover of Zeus and Poseidon. Her symbol is often the poppy or the wheat. - Αθηνά (Athiná) — Athena
Athena is a daughter of Zeus, and as the myth describes, she emerged from her father’s head. She is the goddess of wisdom and knowledge, and is always wearing full battle armor. - Απόλλωνας (Apólonas) — Apollo
Apollo is a son of Zeus and the twin brother of Artemis. He is the god of light, inspiration, and the arts. His symbol is the sun. - Άρτεμις (Ártemis) — Artemis
Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo and the goddess of the hunt. Her symbol is often a deer or an arch. - Άρης (Áris) — Ares
Ares is a legitimate child of Zeus and Hera. He is the god of war and violence. His symbol is often a boar or a spear. - Αφροδίτη (Aphrodíti) — Aphrodite
Aphrodite is also a child of Zeus and is a famous goddess of love and beauty. She is married to Hephaestus, though she also had numerous love affairs. In addition, her presence is strong among Roman gods, as she is referred to as Venus. - Ήφαιστος (Ífestos) — Hephaestus
Hephaestus is the favorite son of Hera and is widely known as the god of craftsmanship. He is the master blacksmith of the gods, after all. - Ερμής (Ermís) — Hermes
Hermes is another son of Zeus, with the nymph Maia. He is the messenger of the gods and is always wearing his winged sandals, which allow him to fly. He is the god of travel, commerce, and communications. - Διόνυσος (Diónisos) — Dionysus
Dionysus is a son of Zeus with Semele. He is the god of wine, festivity, and theatre. In ancient Greece, many festivals were organized in his name.
8. Conclusion
They say that you can’t completely understand a language until you get to learn about the culture behind it. By watching movies related to Greek mythology and history, you can achieve exactly that!
Movies allow you to see how people live in Greece now, as well as in the past. Indeed, this might be the most magical part of learning—understanding a new way of life, including customs and cultural characteristics. When it comes to many aspects of Greek life, Netflix movies like the ones above can be a useful learning tool!
Take a step closer to your language-learning goals today.
GreekPod101.com is here to help!
Take a look at our Greek Movies blog post, as well as our Greek TV Shows article, and take a step further toward mastering Greek in a fun and entertaining way.
At GreekPod101.com, we aim to provide you with everything you need to know about the Greek language in a fun and interesting way. Stay tuned for more articles like this one, word lists, grammar tips, and even YouTube videos, which are waiting for you to discover them!
Are you a fan of Greek mythology Netflix movies? If you’ve watched any of the aforementioned movies, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. 😉
